President Donald J. Trump is reportedly once again seizing the political spotlight, this time by calling for criminal prosecutions of several high-profile Democratic allies — including former Vice President Kamala Harris, entertainer Beyoncé, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, and activist Rev. Al Sharpton — over what he claims are serious campaign finance violations.
In a pointed Truth Social post late Saturday, Trump alleged that these prominent public figures received substantial — and possibly illegal — payouts from the Harris campaign in exchange for endorsements, accusing the campaign of manipulating its finances and flouting federal law.
“I’m looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election,” Trump wrote, “and the fact that they admit to paying, probably illegally, Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT… Three Million Dollars for ‘expenses,’ to Oprah, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars to very low rated TV ‘anchor,’ Al Sharpton… and others to be named for doing, absolutely NOTHING!”
Trump emphasized that such transactions — if done in exchange for endorsements — would be “TOTALLY ILLEGAL” and warned of the dangerous precedent it sets. “Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out!”
While exact sources for Trump’s figures remain unclear, the underlying concern about celebrity influence and campaign transparency is far from baseless. According to campaign finance records, Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment, was paid $165,000 for an appearance at an October rally in Houston — an amount far short of the $11 million figure cited by Trump.
Oprah’s production company, Harpo Productions, was reportedly paid $1 million for organizing a Michigan town hall event, and Sharpton’s National Action Network received $500,000 for voter outreach. Supporters of Harris insist these payments reflect standard fair-market costs for events and services — a claim that deserves scrutiny.
Still, Trump is not alone in questioning the legality of these expenditures. Federal campaign finance law prohibits direct payments in exchange for endorsements, and mandates that all campaign expenses be accurately reported and reflect the fair-market value of goods and services provided. Trump argues that these payments are clear violations of those principles.
“Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted!” Trump declared.
This is not the first time Trump has raised alarms about alleged financial irregularities involving Democratic campaigns and celebrity figures. In December, he accused Harris of using campaign funds to “buy” endorsements. In May, he extended similar charges to Bruce Springsteen and Bono — though public records showed neither received money from the Harris campaign.
“I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter,” Trump warned.
While Democrats and their allies dismiss Trump’s accusations as political theater, the questions he’s raising — about transparency, accountability, and the improper use of campaign dollars — are unlikely to fade from public view. If nothing else, Trump has forced a conversation that many in Washington would prefer to avoid.
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